Sleeping bags for babies (also known as Grobags) are becoming an increasingly popular choice for new parents everywhere. I think I’m right in saying that the large majority of parents, however, still prefer to buy cotton sheets and cotton cellular blankets for their newborn. This is because they are easy to layer so baby can be kept at the right temperature by simply adding or removing a blanket. You can click here to read how many layers a baby should have in relation to the room temperature.

If, like many parents, you decide that baby should sleep in a moses-basket or carry cot to begin with, you can buy specially sized sheets and blankets for this purpose. This makes it easier to ensure that there isn’t an excess of fabric that baby could potentially wriggle down under and have their breathing restricted by. I highly recommend buying the right-sized bedding for the sleeping solution you choose. Although, there are a variety of fabrics available, I would suggest you consider the stretch-cotton sheets as these are less likely to become loose in the night and taking them off and putting them back on is a doddle.

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• Milestones. Has he reached any developmental milestones recently, such as sitting, crawling, walking, talking, teething etc? These go hand in hand with a few sleepless nights I’m afraid! Teething problems can be strongly suspected by the appearance of a wet bed sheet under baby’s head, a drool rash on the cheeks and chin, swollen and tender gums, and a slight fever. Consult your doctor or pharmacist to find the right medication to ease the pain.

• Separation Anxiety. This deserves a post of its own.

• Temperature. Is he too hot or cold? Be careful not to overdress him and see the table at the end of this post for the right temperatures.

• Dressed for sleep. In the early months, many babies like to “sleep tight,” securely swaddled in a cotton baby blanket. Older infants like to sleep “loose,” and may sleep longer stretches with loose coverings that allow them more freedom of movement.

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